LGBTQ Inclusive Books with Characters of Color

At First 5 Napa County and Rainbow Action Network, we love children’s books! We have made many efforts this year to get LGBTQ inclusive books out in the community. We worked with the Napa County Library to improve their selection. We have given away hundreds of books to parents. And we include LGBTQ inclusive books in our Rainbow Kits, which will go out to Early Childhood Educators participating in our Quality Counts program next year. Many of these books include people of color as the main characters, and we have decided to highlight those this Pride Month. Pride began as a riot organized by black transgender women. Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate successes towards equality, dignity and respect; however, Pride Month is also a protest…because so many LGBTQ individuals – particularly those who are Black and Brown – are still a long way from having respect, safety, and equality.

We recommend the following LGBTQ inclusive books that include character of color. In order to work towards equity and justice, parents and educators should be talking with children as early as possible about race, gender, diverse families, and LGBTQ people. These books are meant to help parents take action or “protest” by having conversations with their children. Please reach out if you have other book suggestions.

When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff (Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita)